Page 76 of Catch a Wave

“Yeah. I actually stuck my feet in a few days ago. And today I felt like … more.”

“I’ll say.” I quietly mutter the words to myself, facing the closet.

My smile is for me alone, but it breaks across my face. If I were facing Kai right now, I’d be so busted. The memory of that kiss will be all I think of for the foreseeable future.

“You two want to grab tacos?” Kai asks. “Or maybe get a pizza? I had planned on cooking up some salmon but I’m not feeling motivated.”

“I’ve got to throw in a load of laundry,” I say. “I’ll put the salmon in some marinade and fire up the grill. Unless you’re totally in the mood for pizza. Summer’s hosting that boot-scoot bonfire for Mavs tonight.”

Her nickname slips out and the look on Kai’s face would seem neutral to anyone who doesn’t know him. It’s far from neutral. His eyes squint just the slightest and I catch the movement.

“Salmon? What do you say, Kai?”

“I … yeah. Salmon. If you’re willing, that would be great.”

“Are you coming to the bonfire?” Mavs asks Kai.

“Yeah. I’ll be there. Of course. I just need to lie down for a minute when I get home. I’m wiped out.”

“Two scuba lessons and a three-hour sailing tour will do that to a man.” I smile at Kai.

Maybe I’m not smiling at him. Maybe I’m just smiling. Mavs walks past me, grabbing the towel from my hand. I nearly pull her in toward me. I need to get home and do something besideshanging out in close quarters with her and Kai so soon after that kiss. And I need to talk to her, but not before I sort out my own thoughts.

“I’ll take off then. See you two at home.”

“Wait up!” Mavs shouts, giving one last squeeze to her hair and then tossing the wet towel into the hamper we keep at the back of the shop. “I’ll walk with you and Shaka. I can make a salad while you prep the fish.”

“Okay. Sounds good.”

“See you two at home. I’ll lock up here and be there in thirty or forty minutes.”

I walk ahead of Mavs out the front door of the shop. She follows behind me, catching up and putting her hand on my bicep.

“Are you going to start acting weird now?” She twists her lips and narrows her eyes at me.

I stop and turn toward her, covering her hand with my own.

“No. I’m just up in my head, to be honest. I had told myself to give you space. I promised you we’d be friends. I didn’t mean to kiss you. The splashing was done in fun. And then it escalated, which was awesome—probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I couldn’t believe how deep you went into the water. I’ve got all these feelings ... I … I don’t want to mess things up for you. You’re still healing. I should probably sort this out first before I open my mouth. That was the plan.”

“You had a plan? Because I have no plan, Bo. None. I don’t know what I’m doing past tonight’s bonfire. I know I’m going to work for Mila for a bit. But that’s not what I’m doing long-term. The only thing I know is … I don’t regret that kiss. And I don’t need time to think that through. If you do …”

“I want you, Mavs. All I ever wanted was you.”

She crosses her arms and looks up at me. The fire in her eyes isn’t about our kiss now. We both know who ended thingsbetween us. She thought I didn’t want her. That wasn’t ever the issue. I’ve always wanted her. There won’t be a day that I’m living that I won’t want her.

I pull Mavs in toward me and she collapses into my embrace. Relief floods me, being able to hold her like this. My lips brush across the top of her head. I probably shouldn’t be doing this right here, such a short distance from the shack. If Kai walked out front for any reason, he’d see us.

My words are muffled in Mavs’ hair. We’re both still wearing damp clothes and her hair is wet and curlier than usual. I tug her nearer to warm her up. “I want to explain where I’m coming from. But if my thoughts come out messed up, it’s because I haven’t had time to sort through everything. Promise me you will give me a chance to clear things up if I get something wrong here.”

“I promise, Bodhi.”

I smile, even though she can’t see my face right now. Those three words, and the way she says them, send a shot of hope through my system. Maybe there’s a future for us after all. I’m getting ahead of myself, but I’ve always been like that with her. No brake pedals, only wings. At least, that’s how it was before I blew things up.

“Okay. So. I’ll tell you where my head’s at. Ever since you showed up on our doorstep that first day, I’ve been at war within myself. I’m fighting the urge to touch you—to hold you—every single minute. I’m doing that for you. I’ve been where you are. I know what it takes to move forward. I didn’t want to be a distraction or hindrance. At first it was because I knew I didn’t deserve you. And I probably still don’t. But I want you, Mavs. I want you with everything I am. That’s never changed for me. I’ll always want you.”

Mavs’ eyes soften when she looks up at me. “You are not a distraction or a hindrance. Without you, I might not even have put my feet in the water.”

I lean down and kiss her lips, softly and just for the briefest instant. She wraps her hand behind my head and draws me in again for more. Our kisses are sweeter, more tender and thoughtful this time. Still, everything crackles and hums between us. She’s so familiar. The way we move is like a practiced dance between partners who have been together for years.

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